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The final exams concluded without a hitch.
After they’d glided through the marking period—practically a holiday, for all intents and purposes—the much-anticipated day had finally arrived; the students’ results would be posted. The school year was completed, and only the closing and graduation ceremonies remained. That meant that only a few days separated the students from the almost two-week-long spring break.
“Man, this year went by so fast! So much happened,” Chiaki said, reminiscing.
“All first year students say that,” Asahi said.
“An ice cold reply. Classic Asahi.”
“I mean, well... I guess it was significant for me, too.”
Although classes had finished, the classroom was still bustling with energy.
The fact that this was the final time Asahi would be with this specific group of people gave him a somewhat melancholic feeling. It wasn’t so bad, though. It wasn’t a final goodbye for them. If the students remained in this school, he’d probably bump into them again at some point in the next two years.
“Anyway. How did you do on the exams?”
Chiaki raised an eyebrow. “You really wanna know?”
“Lemme think... Um, yes? I spent a lot of time tutoring you. Obviously I’d want to know your results.”
“I hear you man, but I dunnooo... it’s kinda... personal info, you feel me?”
Asahi ignored his friend’s attempts to stall by reaching over and deftly snatching his report card from his hands. While his grades would not be considered ideal, simply average, Chiaki had managed to pass all subjects.
“Pretty awesome, right?”
“Awesomely average.”
“The truth hurts sometimes, Asahi... You cruel, cruel man...” Chiaki muttered dejectedly.
“Well, to be fair, I guess you gave it your best shot.”
“I know, right?! I totally did!” Chiaki was suddenly full of energy again.
“We’ll get that brain of yours checked one day, Chiaki.”
Nonetheless, his friend had successfully avoided the worst-case scenario and wouldn’t have to take any supplementary courses.
“I spy with my little eye... Chii-pie! Oh, Asahi’s here too! Hey!” a jovial voice called out from behind the two boys, stealing their attention.
They turned to find Hinami waving her hand and entering the classroom. Fuyuka tagged behind her.
“Check this bad boy out, Asahi!”
“Whoa, nice. All that studying paid off in the end,” Asahi said.
“Yup, yup, all thanks to you and Fuyu-Fuyu! I owe you two big time!”
The scores printed on Hinami’s report card—which she’d proudly held up for everyone to see—showed that she’d done pretty uniformly in all the tests.
Meanwhile, Fuyuka had secured her reign as top of her class. Asahi had earned a respectable score and secured a position in the higher echelons. All the members who’d partaken in the study meet could now enjoy spring break without any worries.
“How about we use this holiday to go somewhere? Just the four of us,” Asahi suggested.
Hinami seemed genuinely surprised. “Whoa, it’s rare that Asahi wants to do stuff!”
“What? I’m not allowed to or something?”
“No, no, I didn’t say that at all. In fact, I’m all for it! We were just about to invite you guys out anyway,” Hinami said, drawing out four colorful tickets from her wallet. “I happened to get my hands on some tickets for the amusement park!”
“Where did you even get those from?” Asahi asked.
“My mom won ’em at some lottery when she was out shopping and gave ’em to me!” she puffed her chest with pride despite the fact that she’d done nothing at all. Asahi decided to bite his tongue, however. “So, who’s free on Saturday? Raise your hands!”
“Me, me, me!” Chiaki yelled.
“I guess I’m free that day...”
“I should be fine to come...” Fuyuka answered with a furtive glint in her eyes.
“Then let’s go have a blast at the amusement park!” Hinami exclaimed with a wide smile.
And just like that, everyone was on board.
“It’s been such a long time since I’ve been to an amusement park,” Fuyuka said to herself, staring at the tickets.
“All the more reason to go and enjoy yourself, girl!” Hinami replied, her eyes bright.
“How about we get there real early so we can enjoy the whole day?” Chiaki suggested.
“Hell yeah! You know I’m down for all-day fun!”
The couple—already determined that they were going to enjoy their time at the amusement park to the fullest—promptly began arranging an agenda for the upcoming weekend. They discussed which rides they would go on first, which restaurant to visit for lunch, and which souvenirs to get. They seemed particularly intrigued by the animal-ear headbands modeled after the park’s mascots. The mouse and bear ones seemed to be the most popular.
“How about we all wear matching headbands?” Hinami suggested in an excited tone.
“Not happening,” Asahi refused.
“But why?! They’re like, super cute!”
“That’s not really the problem here.”
“What is it, then?!”
“I’d be too embarrassed.”
The couple smirked.
“Asahi, my man, come here for a minute,” Chiaki said. He leaned in to whisper to his friend.
“God, what now?”
“You can be honest with me, buddy—aren’t you at least a little interested in seeing Himuro with cat ears?”
Asahi paused before muttering, “No.”
“I saw you think about it for a second there.”
“Shut up and go back to talking to your girlfriend.”
Asahi just so happened to lock eyes with Fuyuka at that exact moment, which caused images of her in cute cat ears to pop up. He quickly banished those thoughts with a shake of his head. “Wish Chiaki would keep his mouth closed sometimes...” he grumbled.
“What’s wrong?” Fuyuka asked.
“Just Chiaki being an idiot.”
“You see, Himuro, I was asking my good ol’ pal Asahi here if he was interested in seeing you with cat ea—armmgh!”
Asahi leapt over and covered Chiaki’s mouth with his hands. “Not another word. Am I clear?”
“Cryshtal,” came Chiaki’s muffled reply.
Hinami and Fuyuka both laughed, then the four of them resumed their friendly conversation. They were all smiles as they laid out their plans for the big day.